Chapter Twenty

Maria

I don't know how long it took me but I read every single entry and when I'd finished I could have screamed my pain. I never realized that I had The Major in the palm of my hand and through my own stupidity I drove him away. He had truly loved me, even if it was love born of our lust and hunger for power and each other. I felt every word he wrote putting on paper his feelings for me and the way I destroyed them with my blind insistence on being the one in control at all times, my jealousy of his love for Peter and my fury when he allowed Peter and that newborn he had fallen for escape.

The Major knew I couldn't allow his insubordination but by that time he seems to have given up caring about his own life. I had it all and lost it through my own stupidity, now I was left with the inept Nathan and this carbon copy of my Major, another who hated me just as much as the first had loved me in the beginning. I had been a fool and nearly destroyed a good man. For the first time I was glad he had escaped and made a new life for himself, one he could bear to live.

Turning men into monsters had never bothered me before, I hadn't let it, they were mere tools to be used and then when they stopped being useful disposed of. This journal showed me just how wrong I had been and what it had cost me. I had no choice but to change this man and teach him to fight well enough to fool the others but I would do all I could to help him survive, whatever the cost to myself, it would be my apology to his family, to The Major, the only man I had ever loved.

On day three I knew it was coming to an end, my newest convert was nearing the end of his torment. My newborns were uneasy, on edge, with Nathan storming around taking out his bad temper on them rather than face me. It had taken me some time to understand what a failure he was as my commander, in fact I read it in that journal, in The Major's own hand. He just didn't have the flair the Major possessed but under his tutelage Nathan had managed to shine. He just couldn't sustain it on his own and he knew it. Things had been slipping for some time, I'd lost territory and newborns I could ill afford the loss of. In bed he was adequate, no more and even there I began to tire of him. The Major had been my equal, fighting for dominance whereas Nathan dare not push the limits.

Jay

I could feel again, other than the agony of my body being roasted over an open furnace. The pain was easing just enough for coherent thought and I had hung on to two things, the understanding of what was happening to me and The Majors courage but underlying it all was a terrible rage that threatened to burst forth. The flames had died from my extremities concentrating in my belly and chest like balls of white hot flame and I hoped this meant my torture was coming to an end. I hadn't believed anyone could suffer such pain and remain alive and sane.

The flames from my belly now joined those in my chest and I knew this was the end. I was aware I wasn't alone too although I didn't know how, all I could hear was the licking of the flames and all I could see were those same flames reflected on my eyelids. All I knew of why this had been done to me was that it had something to do with The Major, the man I had insultingly called a coward, if I ever met him I hoped he would accept my apologies and not kill me straight off.

Maria

I knew Jasper would be opening his eyes soon, a few more hours at the most and I wanted to be there when he did so but Jose came in hesitantly, a letter in his hand.

"Carlos had this delivered a few minutes ago Comandante."

I snatched it from him angrily and tore the envelope open scanning the few lines. He was insisting on speaking to me personally to discuss a disturbing rumor that The Major had returned. I couldn't help a smile, news, even misinformation, moved fast.

"Ask Tomas to come in here and watch this man."

He nodded bowing slightly before running off.

"Sorry Jasper, I hope you don't wake before I get back."

I touched his hand which no longer felt hot to my touch and left him.

Jay

I was aware I had been left alone as my heart stuttered a few feeble beats before slowing to a stop, I was really dead yet still alive and now a vampire just as Bella had feared. I lay still for a while sensing my surroundings almost as well as if I were sitting up and looking around. I heard footsteps, very quiet ones and smelled a scent that seemed vaguely familiar, I had met this vampire before and I struggled with misty recollections trying to put a name to the scent and then it came to me. This was the one called Nathan, the one Maria had stopped from attacking me. Was he here for a second attempt? Well this time I was more able to protect myself but as I thought this something roared from the pit of my stomach, not protect but attack.

Before I could stop myself I had landed on my feet crouching and glaring at Maria's side kick who sneered back.

"So you're awake and you think you can take me newborn? Come on then, try it."

I let instinct take over and feinted to the right while moving left as soon as he took the bait. We clashed and then I heard a voice in my head telling me to think, stop acting as if I could defend myself. If they, whoever they were, wanted a clone of The Major then don't give them one. Pretend you are a terrible fighter. Put that first faint down to newborn luck. I pretended to stumble and Nathan caught me by the arm swinging me around and fixing his teeth into my neck. It felt as if I were on fire again as his venom sank into my flesh and I screamed pulling free of him but remembering what I'd thought I turned to run, out into the compound which was something of a mistake because the newborns milling around decided to get in on the act and I felt myself knocked to the ground, teeth sinking into my flesh in different places but then there was a loud shout and the snarls and growls stopped instantly. I was freed and staggered to my feet looking at the bite marks that marred the flesh of my arms. That's when I realized I was only wearing The Majors trousers and a singlet now stained with venom.

"Jasper, you were foolish to take on so many at once as a newly wakened vampire."

"I didn't, I was trying to get away from your crazy ass commander."

I looked around but I couldn't see him anywhere however her eyes blazed and she called his name loudly.

"Nathan. Ven aquí ahora. ¿Sabía usted ataca Jasper? "

The newborns parted and he came sulkily through to stand before her.

I understood just about enough to listen for his answer. He shrugged,

"He has to learn, besides whats a few scars when you think what you did to the original."

The sound of her hand connecting with his face was like rifle shot and he staggered backwards but said nothing.

"Be very careful Nathan, you are not The Major, nor are you irreplaceable, just remember that. Now get out of my sight. Bring in some humans, our friend here must be very thirsty."